Diffusion along intercellular spaces: An analysis of a transient situation

We present an analysis of the diffusion of a tracer in a model of a cell-intercellular space system. The problem reduces to the resolution of a system of a linear partial differential equation and of a linear integral differential equation. The mathematical results have been obtained in terms of their Laplace transforms, which have been inverted by a numerical procedure for some parameter values. The importance of considering gradients of concentrations in intercellular spaces instead of lumping them with the external mediums has been discussed together with the possibility of extending Ussing's relation to transient cases, in order to detect active transports. Some possible implementations of the model to take into account more general situations have been considered.     

Mobilization of iron from ferritin by isolated mitochondria effects of species compatibility between ferritin and mitochondria and iron content of ferritin

Mitochondria mobilize iron from ferritin by a mechanism that depends on external FMN. With rat liver mitochondria, the rate of mobilization of iron is higher from rat liver ferritin than from horse spleen ferritin. With horse liver mitochondria, the rate of iron mobilization is higher from horse spleen ferritin than from rat liver ferritin. The results are explained by a higher affinity between mitochondria and ferritins of the same species. The mobilization of iron increases with the iron content of the ferritin and then levels off. A maximum is reached with ferritins containing about 1 200 iron atoms per molecule. The results represent further evidence that ferritin may function as a direct iron donor to the mitochondria.     

The effects of androgens on the β-glands of the tokay (Gekko gecko): Modification of an hypothesis

Study of the posterior abdominal epidermis in hypophysectomized/thyroidectomized male and female tokays following surgery, and subsequent androgen therapy, indicates that, contrary to a previous model, all aspects of β-gland differentiation are under direct androgenic control. On the other hand, another epidermal specialization, the digital foot-pad, shows a pattern of histogenesis directly comparable to that of β-glands, but is unaffected by androgens. These data are discussed with respect to the evolution of glandular epidermal specializations in gekkonid lizards and the possible role of androgens in modifying the control of cell differentiation in lizard epidermis.     

Chromatographic separation of extruded iron-sulfur cores from the apoproteins of Clostridium pasteurianum and spinach ferredoxins in aqueous Triton X-100/urea

Iron-sulfur core extrusions from spinach [( 2Fe-2S]) and Clostridium pasteurianum (2[4Fe-4S]) ferredoxins in aqueous Triton X-100/urea containing excess benzenethiol yield quantitatively [FenSn(SPh)4]2- with n = 2 and n = 4, respectively. The iron-sulfur cluster can be separated from the corresponding apoprotein by rapid passage of the extrusion mixture over a small anaerobic column of Whatman DE-52 anion-exchange cellulose. Essentially quantitative recovery of [FenSn (SPh)4]2- is achieved in the eluate. The apoprotein remaining on the column can be eluted with 0.5 M NaCl. Most of the residual Triton X-100 and benzenethiol can be removed by passage of the apoprotein eluate over a small column of Bio-Beads SM-2, a hydrophobic polystyrene adsorbent. Apoprotein recovery is comparable to that obtained by other chromatographic methods. At least with spinach ferredoxin, the apoprotein prepared in this fashion can be reconstituted. The procedures developed in this work are potentially most applicable to selective removal of [2Fe-2S] and [4Fe-4S] centers from a multicenter enzyme without irreversible denaturation.     

Chromosome transfer and R-prime formation by an RP4::mini-Mu derivative in Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Proteus mirabilis

We have introduced into the wide host range conjugative plasmid RP4, a mini-Mu derivative which was known to be able to transpose spontaneously in E. coli K-12, and to induce in such a host several kinds of chromosomal rearrangements including replicon fusions. Unlike RP4, RP4::mini-Mu can mediate the transfer of the host chromosome to a recipient bacterium and generate R primes at high frequencies (10^?4 for the transfer of a given marker, 10^?5 for the formation of R primes carrying a given marker). Two such RP4::mini-Mu plasmids were introduced into one Salmonella typhimurium strain, one Klebsiella pneumoniae strain, and one Proteus mirabilis strain. Each of these three strains were mated with an E. coli K-12 recipient and transconjugants carrying R primes were recovered in all three cases at frequencies ranging from 5 × 10^?6 to 10^?7.     

In vitro anti-HIV activity of phosphorothioate alpha-anomeric oligodeoxynucleotides

Oligonucleotide analogs consisting exclusively of alpha-anomeric deoxynucleoside units bridged with phosphorothioate linkages have been synthesized and tested in vitro as antiviral agents against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in human T cells. Two 28-mers, an homopolymer alpha-S-dC28 and an oligomer alpha-S-anti-rev complementary to the initiation site of the regulatory viral gene rev exhibited antiviral activities comparable to those reported for the corresponding beta-anomeric phosphorothioate analogs. In contrast, a nuclease-resistant homopolymer, alpha-dC28 was inactive. Their preliminary results would indicate that the origin of oligonucleotide phosphorothioate anti-HIV activity is not exclusively correlated with their higher nuclease resistance.